Fluid dispensing system



July 4: 1944.

FLUID DISPENSING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 27, 1941 ATTORN EY H. c. GRANT, JR 2,352,627

Patented July 4, '1944 UNITED STATES PATENT orrica rtum imic SYSTEM 7 I i I Harry 0. Grant, In, New York, N. Y., assignor to Specialties Development Corporation, Bloomfield, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 27, 1941, No. 408,409

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to high pressure fluid medium dispensing systems, and more particularly, to apparatus employed in releasing and distributing liquefied carbon dioxide gas stored under high pressure and commonly used for flreextinguishing purposes.

Fire extinguishing systems of this type gentrical methods have been used to initiate the rev lease ofthe stored fluid. ,While the choice of these methods was largely determined by the circumstances prevailing in the particular application, the pneumatic method has had a 'fairly general. acceptance because of the fact that the fluid to be released presents a convenient source of pneumatic energy.

The present method provides for the utilization of a portion of thestored fluid pressure medium to operate a pressure operable fluid releasing mechanism of the system. This calls for the use of special operating fluid containers or the introduction of some of the fluid released into the distributing conduits for operating the releasing mechanism.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved fluid pressure operated fluid dispensing system as embodied in a fire extinguishing apparatus of the type referred to.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a system of the type described which utilizes the pressure of the fluid stored to operate its own releasing mechanism. I

Another object is to provide a releasing mechanism for use with a high pressure fluid container, in which a small initially released portion of the stored fluid from the container is utilized to cause the operation of the main releasing mechanism of the container.

Another object is to provide a releasing mechanism as described, the operation of which by the pressure of the stored fluid may be initiated by a relatively small initial controlling force.

A further object is to provide a distribution system wherein the simultaneous release of all storage containers or the separate release of each container is possible. I a

v modification thereof.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be-described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and descrlption and is shown in the, accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein Figure 1 is a schematic view or a fluid medium distributing system illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, while Figure 2 is a schematic view illustrating a Referring now to the drawing, there are shown systems comprising a primary fluid storage reservoir, receptacle, or" container l and secondary reservoirs, containers or receptacles 2, 0f

which there may be one or more. All the con-p tainers are provided with fluid actuated fluid.

release control means 3 comprising retaining means such as 'a' main valve 4 which controls the discharge of the fluid medium from containers l and 2 by way of a valve seat 5, a chamber Sand discharge tubing 1. The tubing I may lead to a common dischargeconduit 8, as shown, or to individual points of discharge as desired. The fluid actuated release control means 3 further comprise operating means such as a piston 9 adapted to operate the valve 4 and being reciprocally movable in a cylinder it, which is separated from the chamber i by means of a partitioning wall II. The piston 9 and the valve 4 are operatively Joined by a connecting rod l2 which passes through an appropriate aperture in wall H.

In Figure 1, the upper portions of cylinders III are inter-connected through communication tubing l3. A fluid supply connection I4 is provided for directly connecting the priniary container l withthe portion of its cylinder It in back of the piston 9. A control means or pilot ,valve I5 is located in the connection l4.

tainers.

Referring now to Figure 2, each of the containers is equipped with a supply connection it having a pilot valve I! located therein and connecting the container with the portion of its cylinder It in back of the piston 9. However, in-

stead of the cylinders, It being directly connected with each other by tubing II as shown in Figure 1, the cylinder ll of the primary container I is connected for causing the fluid pressure medium therein to eflect operation of the pistons I of the secondary containers through tubing l1 connected to fluid operated actuating means It for the pilot valves It of the secondary contain-' ers or receptacles I. In connection withthe The fluid operated actuating means it com- 1 prises a cylinder is and 'a piston 20 movable therein, a connecting rod 21 joining piston zll and the valve ll; Each'of the pilot valves of the secondary tmnt'ainersv also is individually manually operable by means 2: comprising a knob, capable, when actuated, of depressin the piston 10' to therebyfopen'fthe valve l5. From the foregoing description, it ,will be under tood that the pilot valve I! of the primary container (Figures 1 and 2) may be remotely operable by an actuating means II as described in connec tion with the pilot valves of the secondary con- The operation of the system is as follows:

In the system shown in Figure 1, initial actu-- ation of the pilot valve ll of the primary con- 2,352,027 I by I invention provides fluid pressure medium distribution systems or the like in connection with a. plurality of receptacles or containers, in which the pressure of the fluid within a container is.

utilized to eifect the release of the main bulk of its own fluid.

Having described only a typical and preferred form of the invention, I donot wish to'limit myself torthe specific details'set forth but wish to reserve to myself any changes or variations and the, mechanical equivalents of the apparatus illustrated that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims;

I claim :f 1. In combination: a primary receptacle con taining a fluid under pressure, a secondary receptacle containing a fluid under pressure, delivery means into which the fluid from said primary and said secondary receptacle is delivered when it is released, primary fluid "retaining means for' retaining the fluid in said primary receptacle, primary fluid'actuated operating 1 means for said primary retaining meansto 're-' lease the fluid retained thereby, a direct fluid flow connection between said primary operating means and said primary receptacle, primary pilot valve meansfor said fluid flow connection, actuating means for said primary pilot valve means, fluid actuated fluid release control means including retaining-means for-said secondary receptacle, and means forming a fluid flow connection between said fluid release control means for said secondary receptacle and tainer I, permits fluid under pressure from this container to reach the cylinders Ill, where the pressure acts. to depress the pistons 9, thus opening the main valves 4 and causing the fluid medium 02 all of the containers orreservoirs to be discharged into the common discharge conduit I.

In the case of the system of Figure 2, actuation of the pilot valve II of the primary container l, permits fluid under pressure from the container to reach the cylinder ll, there toactuate the piston 9 and to open the main valve 4 as in Figure '1. l

Here, however, the pressure fluid controlled by the pilot valve I! of the primary container, instead of operating the pistons 9 and main valves 4 of the secondary-containers, is madeto actuate the pistons 20 of the pilot valve actuating means it of secondary containers 2. The pilot valves l5 of .the secondary containers, in turn, permit the pressure fluid of each of the containers to operate their individual pistons 9 and main valves 4. In this system, it

is also possible to cause therelease of the fluid from each of the secondary containers separately, by an initial actuation of each individual said primary operating means; wherebyfsaid' fluid release control meansfor saidsecondary receptacle is adapted to be actuatedupon an initial actuation of said primary pilot valvemeans',

2. In combination: a primary receptacle containing a fluid under pressure, primary fluid retaining meansfor retaining said fluid in said receptacle, a secondary receptacle containing I a fluid under pressure, secondary fluid retaining. means for retaining said fluid in said secondary receptacle, delivery means into whichthe fluid from said primary and said secondary receptacle is delivered whenit is released, primary fluid actuated operating means for saidpri'ma (fluid retaining means to release the fluid frgni' 'said primary receptacle, secondary fluid actuated operating means for said secondary fluid retaining means torelease the fluid from said secondary knob 22. It will be seen, thatthis system isv somewhat more flexible than that illustrated in Figure 1, in so far as anyone ofIthe secondary or all of the containers maybe released in accordance with the prevailing needs.

It will be evident that the initialactuation of the primary container pilot valve may be accomplishcd, as alreadyindicated, by remote or local control means which are operated by vmanual. mechanical, pneumatic or electrical apparatirs, thedetails of which are not pertinent. to this invention.

From the foregoing, it will be seen'that this 7s receptacle, a direct fluid flow connection respectively between'said primary operating'means and said primary receptacle and a connection between said secondary operating means and said secondary receptacle, primary pilot valve means for said fluid flow connection to said primary operating means, actuating meansfor said primary pilot valve means, and fluid pressure operated secondary pilot valve means for said fluid flow connection to said secondary operating'means said last named pilot valve means being in fluid flow connection withfsaid primary fluid actu v ated operating. means and being adapted toibe actuated by fluid from said primary receptacle upon .actuation of said primary pilot valve means 3.. In combinationj'a primary receptacle con taining a fluid under pressure, primary fluid retainingme'ans for retaining said fluid in said receptacle, a secondary receptacle containing va fluid under pressure, secondary fluid retaining means for retaining said fluid in said secondary receptacle, delivery means into which the fluid aasaeav is deliveredwhen it .isreleased, primary fluidv actuatcdoperating means i'orsaid primary 'rea taining means to release the fluid from saidprimary receptacle, secondary fluid actuated operating means for said secondary retaining means to release the fluid from said secondary receptacle, a direct fluid flow connection between said primary operating means and said primary receptacle and a connection between said secondary operating means and said secondary receptacle, primary, pilot valve means for said fluid flow connection to said primary operating means, actuating means for said primary pilot valve means including a manually op rable member, and fluid pressure actuated secondary pilot valve means for said fluid flow-connection 4. For use in a fluid medium dispensing system, the combination: a first receptacle containing a fluid under pressure, primary fluid retaining means for retaining said fluid in said first receptacle, a second receptacle containing a fluid under pressure, secondary fluid retaining means for retaining said fluid in said second receptacle, delivery means into which the fluid from said first and said second receptacle is delivered when it is released, primary fluid actuated operating means for said primary retaining means to release the fluid from said first receptacle, secondary fluid actuated operating means for said secondary retaining means to release the fluid from said second receptacle, a direct fluid flow connection between said primary fluid actuated operating means andsaid first receptacle and a connection between said secondary fluid actuated operating means and said second receptacle,

primary control means for said fluid flow connection to said primary operating means, fluid pressure actuated actuating means for said primary control means, and fluid pressure actuated secondary control means for said fluid flow connection to said secondary operating means, said secondary control means being in operative fluid flow connection with said pn'mary control actuating means. p

5. For use in a fluid medium dispensing systern, the combination: a first receptacle contain ing a fluid under pressure, primary fluid retaining means for retaining said fluid in said first receptacle, a second receptacle containing a fluid under pressure, secondary fluid retaining means for retaining said fluid in said second receptacle, delivery means into which the fluid from said first and said second receptacle is delivered when it is released, primary fluid actuated operating means forsaid primary retaining means to release the fluid from said first receptacle, secondary fluid actuated operating means for said secondary retaining means to release the fluid from said second receptacle, a direct fluid flow connection between said primary operating means and said flrst receptacle and a connection between said secondary operating means and said second receptacle, primary control means for said fluid said operating means and each receptacle, pilot nection fwith fluid connection control means, said secondary control means being inoperative fluid ilow,con-' said primary control. actuating meanls ip v k 6. In combination: a primary receptacle containing a fluid under pressure, a secondary receptacle containing a fluid under pressure, delivery means into which the fluid from said primary and said secondary receptacle is delivered when it is released, primary fluid retaining means for retaining the fluid in said primary receptacle, primary fluid actuated operating means for said primary fluid retaining means to release the fluid from said primary receptacle, fluid actuated fluid release control means including secondary fluid retaining means adapted to release the fluid from said secondary receptacle, a fluid flow connection between said primary fluid actuated operating means and said'fluid actuated fluid release control means, direct fluid flow connections respectively between said primary fluid actuated operating means and said primary receptacle and between said fluid actuated fluid release control means and said secondary receptacle, primary pilot valve means for said direct fluid flow conare adapted to be actuated upon actuation of said primary pilot valve means.

7. In combination, a plurality oi receptacles containing a fluid under pressure, fluid retaining means for retaining the fluid in each receptacle, delivery means into which the fluid from said re-' ceptacles is delivered when it is released, fluid actuated operating means for the retaining means of each receptacle to release the fluid therefrom, a direct fluid flow connection between each of said operating means and each receptacle, pilot valve means in each of said fluid flow connections, actuating means associated with each of said pilot valve means, and means operativly inter-connecting all of said pilot valve actuating means adapted to transmit an operating force for the operation of said pilot valve actuating means.

8. In combination, a plurality of receptaclesactuated operating means for the retaining means of each receptacle to release the fluid therefrom, a direct fluid flow connection between each ofvalve means in each of said fluid flow connections, actuating means associated with each of said pilot valve means, means operatively inter-connecting all of said pilot valve actuating means adapted to transmit an operating force for the operation of said pilot valve actuating means, and a releasable source of fluid pressurein operative connection with said last named means.

9. In combination, a plurality of receptacles containing a fluid under pressure, delivery means into whichthe fluid from said receptacles is delivered when it is released, fluid actuated fluid release control means including fluid retaining means for each of said receptacles to retain the fluid therein, a primary receptacle containing a fluid under pressure, primary fluid retaining means for retaining the fluid in said primary receptacle, fluid actuated operating means for said and individual manual control for the actuating means for :both the prima andv the secondary primary retaining means, a direct fluid flow connection between said primary operating means;

and said primary receptacle, pilot valve means for said fluidflow connection, actuatingmeans for said pilot valve means, and means operatively inter-connecting said primary operating means HARRY 0. GRANT, .11., 

